Water-elevating apparatus



T. E. CROCKETT WATER ELEVATING APPARATUS May 18 Filed Nov. 24,'1923 2 Sheei's-Sheel 1 vUZ.

May 1s, 1925 T. E. RocKz-:TT

WATER ELEVATINGr APPARATUS Filed' Nov. 24, 1923 2 sheets-sheet 2 lrtatentet May l,

issuer ,ETEEQE THOMAS E. CROCKETT, 0F ELDGRAEO, KASAS, ASSGNOR GF SNE TVENTY-FOUBTH TO (MRS.) Cl. N. RABSHETAN, F ELSORABO, KANSAS.

WATER-ELEVATNG APPARATUS.

Application filed November 24, 1923. Serial No. 676,819.'

rllhis invention relates to water elevating apparatus and more particularly to that type et devices adapted for use in connection with wells, cisterns or other` bulk sources ot supply such as lakes, etc.

@ne ot the principal objects et the invention is to provide simple and eiticient apparatus which may be installed at relatively low cost and which will operate to provide a continuous supply oi2 water as long as the same is needed.

Another object of the invention is the provision ot novel mechanism wherein a plu rality ot independent supply tanks are employed, together with novel valve mechanism actuatedmhy the movement ot one of the tanks, as it is automatically raised or lowered, to control the supply ot `fluid pressure to the respective tanks, whereby a continuous supply ot water may be maintained in the system which the apparatus is designed to feed.

Still another object ot the invention is the provision, in a water elevating apparatus, of improved inechanisi'n wherein one et a plurality ot storage or supply,y tanks is'utilized as a float to control the supply of fluid pressure, which acts to displace the water within the tanks, and i'urther, whereby the fluid pressure acts directly upon the water to be displaced, as distinguished from. where suoli fluid pressure is directed against one side ot a piston which displaces the water.

Further objects ot the invention will appear as the :following` specific description is read in connection with the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this appli cation, and in which:

Figure l is a section taken through a well showing the mechanism in elevation therein.

Figure 2 is a similar view looking at the apparatus from a point at right angles to that of Figure l.

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail trent elevation ot the valve actuating mechanism.

Figure t is a detail sectional view taken on the line lf-4 of Figure 3.

Figures 5 and 6 are sectional views through the valve plug showing its dilerent positions.

Figure 7 is a side elevation ot the valve plu@ removed from its casino' and F, F, .i .Y

Figure 8 is a detail sectional View through one of the check valves carried by the supply or storage tanks.

Referring to the drawings and more particularly to Figures l and 2, l represents a well casing upon the upper end ot which 1s mounted a suitable platform 2 adapted to support the valve mechanism generally indicated at A.

Vilithin the well and preferably mount-ed in such manner that it is stationary with respect to the casing l, is a cage or open housing 3, which at its lower end is provided with clamping bands 4 surrounding and holding the lower supply tank 5 in position. The upper supply tank, indicated at is slidably mounted in the cage or open housing 3, and these supply or storage tanks are provided adjacent their lower ends with inwardly openingcheck valves 7, adapted to permit ingress of water, but to prevent egress when the source of pressure is connected to that particular' tank. The lower tank 5 is connected to the pipe 8, which leads to the point ot use of the water, through a check valve 9, and the tankV 6 is connected to the pipe 8 through a check valve'lO and a flexible conduit or pipe ll, this 'flexible connection being provided in order that the tank 6 may rise and tall in the body ot water in accordance with conditions ot the apparatus, i. e. whether the tank 6 is filled with compressed air which has previously discharged the water therein. or whether it is illcd with water as will be hereinafter described.

Mounted upon the platform 2 are supports 12 which carry a valve easing 13 having therein a tapered valve plug socket le in which is seated the correspondingly tapered valve plug l5 to loe hereinaiterniore particularly described. This plug has secured thereto and passing through the center thereof an operating stem or shaft 16 pressed air, While the porttore described.,Vv

The opposite end of the shaft 16 has loosely journalled thereon anarm 19 which carries at its outer end a segment 2O having an arcuate slot 21 Jormed therein into which is adjustably fitted a guide collar 22, centrally apertured to receive the actuating rod 28 carried by and projectingabove the tank 6; As shown the connection oit the rod 23 with the tank is a pivotal one as indicated at 24C, so as to accommodate the swinging movement ot' the arm 19.

TheA arm 19 is formed with a head 24: loosely journalled A upon the stein or shaft 16 and this-liead carries a radiallyprojeeting rod 25 having a control weight 25 adjustably secured thereon by means of the set screw 2?". The rod 25 is lir ited in its movement'in either direction beyondcenter by.

stopl pins 28' which are positioned upon the casing at such points as will insure the proper registration ot the ports 1n the plug.

, is provided With an axially arranged chamber 29'trom which extend two. exhaust ports SO and 31 and in the periphery of the plug there isprovided a win32 arranged as shown in Figures 3 and to connect the casing ports 33 and Se and in its opposite po-4 sition, as indieatedA in Figure G, to connect the ports 33 and 35.V The port 33 in the casf ing-is connected by means ot pipe. 86 to a suitable source of fluid pressure such as comis connected ley-means of a pipe 3T 'as shown in Figure 1 to the upper portion oi' they stationary tank 5. Theport 35 is connected by means ot' a pipe *'38 and a flexible pipe 39 to the upper rend ot the slidably arranged tank t3.

Vl'norder to actuate `the valve plug 15 I provideA spaced studs 110 projectingoutivardly from the valve, which are engaged by the mfnror-rod it is moved with the arn'i lil so that when said arm which as above stated is loose'upon'the Vshattlt7 is moved beyond center, the weight will actuate the arm,` turning the saine freel about the,l shaft 1f64and bringing the rod into-engagement with one of'l the studs l0 to turn the valve until the arm 25 contacts Withoneot the limiting pins'28. ln the vposition of the valvev asindicated in Figurey 3, the rod 25 has contacted with the left hand pin and lhas turned the valve plugl until the ports 33 and J-S-l in the casing are connected by the veinv ltwill be noted that the casing 13 is provided with diametrically opposite exhaustv passages l1 and 4t2, `which are adapted to be respectively connected lwith the vexhaust ports 30 and-51A in the plug-15 according to the; position" of thispart.

The rod 23', Aconnected to. thetankg as .be-

and slidably mounted through the guide collar 22, carries a pair of spaced collars 4:3 and 441 adapted to contact respectively with the lower and upper ends of the'guide collarvso as to move the segment 2O and the arm 19 -and thereby throw the weighted lever or rod 25 to actuate thel valve.

lvlaving thusdescribed the structural features of this invention I shall now proceed u'itha description o the operation.

Tr' e Will assume that the parts are in the position` illustrateddnw.Figure 1 with the tank 6 in its lovverrnost position and submerged below the Water'line fur-JLU, and with the valve plug' 15 in the position shown in Figure t3.' ln this position ot the parts, both tanks 5 and Gare. filled with water and the compressed air entering through the Apipe and port 83 Voi the valve casingA iseonducted via thesvein 32 vand 'port 35 to pipes 38 and 3f) to the upper endet the tank 6, thus placing aconstant pressure yupon the surface ot the Watercontained in this tank so that innnefjiiately a faucet in the system, which the pipe 8 feeds, is open', Water Will flow out of the bottom oi the tank 6 through Vthe pipe 11 and 'pass the check valve 10 to vinto engagementwit-h the guidecollar 22 andthe arm 19 is elevated carrying` with it the Weighted lever or `rod until this .latter part'v passes center7 at which time the Weight. actuates the lever 25, which, contacting with the lett hand pine@ on the aire plug l5, moves this latter element so as tobring the vein-32 into. the position shown in Figure 3 uf'herebyit connectsthe ports 233 and At'thispoint the arin 25 has beenvstoppcd by reason of itsengagement with the lett hand limiting pin or stud28 and the exhaust port- 31 is vconnected.with the port und the exhaust pori 30 with the passage 11.

In this positionof the parts the air previously fed into the tank@ is now..exhausted as tollowsz-Through the pipes-39, 38,1po1t 35 inthe valve easing, port 31 in vthe plug valvel 15,*chainber 29 andv port 30 vto the outlet passage 41. At the same time air from the source rvot supply through the "pipe 36 is fed directly to ,the lower tank 5 as ,tolloWsL-Pipef port '33,' vein 32, portl 3.45 -andfpipe 37,' tothe Il l) `With Water.

thereby be placed under pressure and discharged through the check valve 9 and pipe 8 to the point ot use.

As the air exhausts from the tank 6 as just described, Water from the Well will enter through the check valve 7 and thereby lill the tank causing the same to again sink to the position shown in Figure l, and in doing so causing the collar 44 to engage the upper end of the guide collar 22 and move the valve back to its original position as before described. It is to be understood, of course, that this second actuation of the valve to the position shown in Figures 1 and 5 does not occur until the tank 6 has been completely or practically completely filled Vlhen the tank G has sunk to its loivermost position and the valve parts arranged as in Figures l and 5, air will be exhausted from the tank 5 through the pipe 37 to the port 34 which is then connected to the exhaust passage 42 via port 30, chamber 29 and port 3l.

lt is also to be understood that the relilling of the tank 6 will always occur prior to a complete discharge of the water in the tank 5, but the tank 6 may be refilled when only a very small quantity has been discharged from the tank 5 or before any Water has been discharged from the tank 5depending entirely upon the quantity used in the system Which the pipe 8 supplies. For instance, if after all the Water had been used from tank -6 and the valve shifted to the position shown in Figure 3, no Water was used from the system, the tank (3 would continue to lill with Water and exhaust the air therefrom until the valve parts had been reversed or brought to the position shown in Figures 1 and 6, so that the compressed air would be upon the Water in the tank 6 and the Water Would be discharged again from this tank.

Again if a great quantity o'l Water were used While the tank 5 was connected to the source ot pressure most ot the Water might be discharged therefrom vvhile the tank (3 was refilling. However, the parts are so arranged and the collars 43 and 44 adjusted so that the Water in tank 5 cannot be com pletely discharged before the tank 6 is again ready to have its contents discharged.

The adjustment of the collars 48 and 44 upon the operating rod 23 and the adjustment of the collar 22 Within the slot 2l of the segment 2O makes it possible to control the operation of the valve as desired. For instance, it the collar 43 were raised upon the rod 23, the valve would be shifted from the position shown in Figure l to the position shown in Figure 3 at an earlier period and when the tank 6 was at a lower level. Again, it the collar 44 Were shifted downwardly upon the rod 23 the valve .would be actuated from the position shown 1n Figure .quick snapping action of the valve in either direction is assured.

lhile l have shown one embodiment of' the invention it is to be understood that many changes in torni and proportion may be made Without in any Way departing trom the spirit or scope of the invent-ion as de' lined in the appended claims, and I also wish it understood that While the mechanism has been illustrated as operating Within a Well, that l contemplate constructing the saine for use in cisterne, lakes, dug and driven or bored Wells, and in fact in any place Where it is desired to elevate Water from a source of sup-ply to a point of use.

I claim l. In a Water elevating apparatus, in combination with movable and stationary storage tanks and a source ot pressure, of a valve actuated by the movable tank for controlling the pressure to said tanks and the discharge of Water therefrom.

2. In a Water elevating apparatus, in conibination vvith movable and stationary storage tanks and a source of pressure, ot a valve actuated by said movable tank for alternately admitting pressure to the respective tanks and discharging the Water therefrom.

3. ln a Water elevating apparatus a source ot Water supply, a stationary submerged storage tank, a second tank adapted to be raised or lowered in the source of supply according to its condition, and a valve actuated upon a relative movement between said tanks for alternately directing the source of fluid supply to the respective tanks and eX- hausting pressure therefrom whereby the Water .is alternately discharged from the respective tanks, and means 'for admitting Water to either tank when the other ot said tanks is connected with the source of pressure.

4. In a Water elevating apparatus, the combination with a Well, a stationary tank submerged beneath the Water in the well, a second tank Whose buoyancy is controlled by its contents, a source of fluid pressure, a valve controlled by the buoyant tank for alternately admitting said pressure to the respective tanks, and means for admitting Water to either ot' said tanks when the other of said tanks is connected with the source of pressure..

5. In a Water elevating apparatus, the combination with a vvell having a source of Water supply therein, of a storage tank subi'nerged in the Water, a second storagetank Whose position in the Water is controlled by its contents, a source lot' tiuid pressure, a single valve connected to the source ot pressure and to said tanks, said valve havingexhaust ports, and means for actuating,r the valve whereby the pressure is alternately admitted to the respective ltanks and the exhaust ports alternately connected with said tanks.

6. In a vvater elevating apparatus, the combination with a source ot yWater supply, a pair ot storage tanks having inlets and outlets, one ol said tanks being movable, a source ot fluid pressure, and a 'valve actuated by the movable tank itor controlling th source ot tluid pressure alternately to the respective tanks.

7. In water elevatinf;` apparatus, a pair ot relatively movable tanks having inlet and outlet openings controlled by check valves, a source ot pressure, a valve connected to said source of pressure andl to said tanks, and

having` exhaust ports, and means actuated upon relative movement between said tanks :tor operating,` the valve whereby the tanks are alternately connected to the'source et' pressure and to the exhaust.

8. In Water elevating` apparatus, the coinbination with a body ot water, ot a stationary tank submerged within said body ofi Water and having check valve controlled inlet and outlet ports, a movable supply tank having` check valve controlled inlet and outlet ports. said movable tank being positioned within the body of water according to the character ot its contents, a source of pressure, and a valve controlling the source ot pressure to the respective tanks, together vsith operatingr means connecting the valve and movable tank.

9. ln a water elevating; apparatus, a pair ci" storage tanks, a source ot iuid pressure, a valve controlling,` the source of Huid pressure to said tanks, means connecting the valve to one or" the tanks Jfor operation thereby, and means tor further actuating` the valve after an initial actuation by the last mentioned means.

l0. A valve 'for controlling` fluid pressure to storage tanks ot Water elevating apparatus, comprising a casing, a valve rotatably mounted therein, means actuated by one ot the tanks tor moving the valve partially in one direction, andineans for completing; the movement of the valve in that direction independent ot the last named means.

itil valve for controllingr fluid pressure to storage tanks of Water elevating,` apparaius, comprising a casing, a valve rotatably mounted therein, means actuated by one ot the tanks for moving the valve partially in or direction, and gravity actuated means for completing the movement or the valve in the same direction which is independent of the last named means.

l2. Stn a Water elevating,- apparatus the combination with a Well, a traine mounted within the well, a tank submerged beneath the Water in the Well, and secured immovably in the trame, a second tank slidably guided in the trame Whose buoyancy is controlled by its contents, a source of fluid pressure, a valve controlled by the slidably mounted tank tor alternately admittingsaid pressure tothe respective tanks and means tor admitting Water to either ot said tanks when the other of said tanks is connected With the source ot pressure.

13. In a Water elevating apparatus the combination with a Well, a 'trame mounted Wit-hin the Well, a tank submerged beneath the water in the well, and secured immovably in the trame, a second tank slidably guided in the trame Whose buoyancy is controlled by its contents, a source ot fluid pressure, a valve controlled by the slidably mounted tank tor alternately admitting said pressure to the `respective tanks and means t'or admitting water to either of said tanks when the other et said tanks is connected ivith the source of pressure, together with a common discharge pipe connected to said tanks.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

THOMAS E. CROCKETT. 

